New Era for South Tyrol: Railway Agreement Secured

ITALY: The Autonomous Province of South Tirol has struck a deal with RFI, the national infrastructure manager, to utilize its rail network through 2035.

This agreement includes exciting developments like the Virgolo tunnel project in Bolzano and plans for electrifying the 60 km stretch between Merano and malles with a modern 25 kV system.

A key highlight is the Val di Riga connection—a new direct route spanning just 4 km that links Bressanone on the Brenner line to Schiaves on the Puster Valley line. This will allow trains from Bolzano to run directly without needing to switch directions at Fortezza. The project features two tunnels measuring 800 m and 350 m, plus a bridge stretching over 172 m.

“Railways are essential for public transport in South Tirol,” remarked Daniel Alfreider, Provincial Councillor for Mobility, following the March 11 agreement. “We aim to provide fast, agreeable train services that can compete with car travel. This framework ensures our railway remains efficient and appealing in years ahead.”